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Ghanem al-Masarir: I mocked the Saudi leader on YouTube

LONDON – For satirist Ghanem al-Masarir, the campaign of intimidation began subtly. After years of using his YouTube channel to lampoon the Saudi Arabian leadership from his London exile, the digital threats began to manifest in the physical world. He noticed the same faces appearing in different parts of the city, individuals he identified as pro-regime supporters who would stop him, film him, and harass him on the street. The unnerving efficiency of their encounters raised a critical question: How did they always know where he was?

The answer, when it came, pointed not just to physical surveillance but to a sophisticated digital intrusion that turned his own phone into a tracking device. Al-Masarir's case has become a stark illustration of the lengths to which state actors will allegedly go to monitor and silence dissent, a campaign of transnational repression that carries significant geopolitical and financial risks.

This operation represents a new front in the battle for information, where the targets are not armies but individuals with a smartphone and a social media account. The resources deployed underscore the perceived threat posed by online critics to a government heavily invested in controlling its national narrative.

Who is Ghanem al-Masarir?

Ghanem al-Masarir is a prominent Saudi human rights activist and comedian living in the United Kingdom. He rose to fame through his YouTube show, the "Ghanem Show," which uses biting satire to critique the Saudi government and, most notably, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS).

His work, which has amassed millions of views, resonates deeply with a young, tech-savvy Saudi population. By using humor, he demystifies and challenges the carefully crafted image of the Kingdom's leadership, making him a significant figure in the landscape of Arab-language political commentary.

From Digital Ridicule to Physical Harassment

The escalation from online critic to physical target followed a grimly predictable pattern observed in other cases of transnational repression. For al-Masarir, the harassment was designed to be public and intimidating.

• Systematic Stalking: He reported being followed and confronted by organized groups in London, a city he had chosen for its supposed safety. These encounters were often filmed, presumably to be used as propaganda or to intimidate other dissidents.

• Physical Assault: The campaign culminated in a violent assault outside the luxury department store Harrods in 2018, an incident al-Masarir firmly believes was orchestrated by the Saudi regime.

• The Lingering Question: Throughout this period, the precision of the harassment suggested his pursuers had real-time access to his location. This led investigators to look beyond physical surveillance and into his digital life.

Unmasking the Digital Ghost

Forensic analysis of al-Masarir's devices provided the answer. Investigations, including those by the non-profit organization Citizen Lab, found that his iPhone had been targeted by sophisticated spyware.

• The Weapon: The primary tool identified in similar cases has been Pegasus, a powerful surveillance software developed by the Israeli firm NSO Group. Saudi Arabia has been identified by researchers and journalists as a major client of the firm.

• The Method: Pegasus can be deployed through "zero-click" exploits, meaning it can infect a phone without the user having to click a malicious link. Once installed, it grants the operator complete access to the device—turning on the camera and microphone, accessing messages, and tracking its GPS location.

• The Confirmation: For al-Masarir, the discovery confirmed that his phone had been transformed into a pocket-sized spy, broadcasting his every move to those who wished him harm. It was the key that unlocked the mystery of how his harassers always found him.

The Wider Context: A Kingdom's Long Arm

Al-Masarir's case is not an isolated incident. It is part of a well-documented and aggressive strategy by Saudi Arabia to neutralize critics abroad, a campaign that has drawn international condemnation and created significant diplomatic friction.

• The Khashoggi Precedent: The 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul remains the most chilling example of this policy. U.S. intelligence concluded that the operation was approved by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

• Targeting Activists: Other figures, such as the women's rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul (who was forcibly repatriated from the UAE before being imprisoned and allegedly tortured), highlight a pattern of targeting any voice that challenges the official state line, whether at home or abroad.

• The Goal: This strategy of transnational repression aims to create a climate of fear, demonstrating that no critic is safe, regardless of their location or citizenship. It seeks to shatter the security of exile and enforce loyalty through intimidation.

The High Cost of Control: Financial and Geopolitical Fallout

For a nation aggressively pursuing economic diversification and foreign investment under its "Vision 2030" plan, such actions carry a steep price that extends far beyond the cost of surveillance software.

• Reputational Damage: Vision 2030 is predicated on presenting Saudi Arabia as a modern, stable, and open hub for global business. High-profile cases of repression directly contradict this image, raising red flags for investors and international partners who prize predictability and the rule of law.

• Investor Uncertainty: The perception of a leadership willing to deploy extreme measures against its critics creates market uncertainty. It raises questions about governance, accountability, and the potential for arbitrary decisions that could affect business interests. Following Khashoggi's murder, many high-profile executives withdrew from the Kingdom's flagship "Davos in the Desert" investment conference.

• Geopolitical Strain: These operations, particularly when conducted on the soil of Western allies like the UK, create serious diplomatic tensions. They force host governments to confront the reality of foreign intelligence operations targeting individuals within their borders, straining security and political relationships.

Implications and Next Steps

The story of Ghanem al-Masarir serves as a powerful case study in the modern clash between authoritarian control and digital free speech. While he continues to produce his show, he does so under the constant shadow of a state that has proven its willingness and capacity to reach him thousands of miles from its borders.

For the international community, these events pose a series of critical questions. How can Western democracies protect dissidents on their soil? What accountability should be demanded of technology companies whose products are used to facilitate human rights abuses? And for Saudi Arabia, the ultimate question remains whether the perceived benefits of silencing a few critical voices are worth the immense and lasting damage to its international standing and long-term economic ambitions. The answer will shape the Kingdom's trajectory for years to come.